Automatic steering-column lock



1,700,864 A. 'P. TREDWAY AUTOMATIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK Filed March 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1929.

Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,864

A. P. TREDWAY AUTOMATIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK .Filed March 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 5, 1929..

llhllTE'. STATES A'ET'ENT FFlCE.

ALFRED P. TEEDWAY, 6F SI-IOALS, I'NlhIANA.

AUTOMATIC STEERENG-COL'UMN LOCK.

Application filed March 17, 19-28. Serial No. 262,498.

This invention relates to locking means for main body portion or pawl carrier consisting the steering elements of automobiles, tractors of two complementary castings 3 and and the like. adapted to interfit one within the other as 'lhe main object is to provide a device to mounted upon the shaft section 1. ln this 5 mount upon the steering shaft of the vehicle purpose the castings are formed with cirwhcreby the front wheels of the same will oular face plates or portions 5 bored out cenbe retained in any adjusted position until retrally at 6, interlocking hubs 7 bored out at 60 leased by the driver. 8 in alignment with the bores 6, and comple- Another object is to provide a lock which is mentary recesses 9 for the reception of the i automatic in action, being operated by the opposed hubs 7. The said castings 3 and a usual processes of steering and having no are so formed that. when assembled upon the extra levers or wheels for the operation thercshaft 1 there is sufficient space between the 65 some as indicated at 10 in Figure 8. so. that Another object is to provide such a device they may be rotated son'iewhat relative to each )5 which is positive in action, simple and sturdy other. The said shaft section 1 is passed in construction and which may be convenloosely through the apertures 6 and 8 in castiently assembled upon the steering shaft of ing 4 and is secured to casting 3 by pins 11. 70 the vehicle. Upon the lower edge of the faceplate 5 of W 1th the foregoing and other ob ects in casting lthe shaft 2 is secured in any suitview the invention resides in the peculiar conable manner as by a flange bolted to the shaft struction and arrangement of the parts as at 12. Thus it may be understood. that as the hereinafter set forth and claimed. shaft C is turned the pawl carrying body com- 7 In the drawings: prising the two castings as set forth will Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in secturn upon the same axis, the casting first tion, of a portion of the frame of a motor turning within casting 4: until the 1O vehicle showing the steering shaft with my is taken up. invention, also shown partly broken away The casting i has formed upon opposite 80 and in section, applied thereto. sides of the axis thereof and obliquely situ- Figure 2 is an enlarged end view on the ated as to each other at opposite ends of the sight line 2-2 in Figure l,the steering shaft casting, the spaced shoulders 18 as shown in being shown in. section. Figure 7. Fulcrumed upon pins M between Fi 'urc 3 is an enlar ed section thereof the shoulders 13 are the )flWlS 15 and '16 the a v Q a wh 1110110 rh line 3-.3 in Fio'ure 1.. same home; s Bring b Y (3011 s )riu s l! seated t: o. c

Figure a is an end view of one of the main in sockets l8 and braced against the feet ll) castings mak ng up the body of my invention. of the said pawls. Grooves 20 are formed in Figure 5 a side view thereof. the casting 3 in alignment with the said pawis Figure 6 is an end view of the casting l5 and 16 the said grooves being interrupted an adapted for inter-fitting relationship with the at their medial portions by bridges or stops casting as shown in Figures at and 5. 21 extended across the top thereof as shown,

Figure 7 is a side view thereof. being in fact continuations of the casting at Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the those points, and leaving passa eways 22 bepawls and its associated elements. neath the stops. Pawl operat'iig rods 23 are 95 Referring now more particulariy to the pivoted at one end in slots 2% in the pawls drawings, the reference character A indicates and 16 by means of pins The said rods generally a portion of the frame of an autoare passed through the passageways 22 in n'iobile and B denotes the conventional asthe grooves 20 and have at their opposite senibly of worm and partial gear iteering ends the catch blocks 26. Pawl operating gear upon the steering shaft G. The steering shoulders 27 are formed in the casting 8 imshaft C in applying my invention thereto is mediately below the grooves 20 and are out or parted as indicated at the dotted line adapted to bear upon the feet 19 of the pawls 35 in Figure 1 to form an upper portion 1 15 and 16 as shown in Figure 3.

and lower portion 2. Internally toothed ratchet rings 28 and 29 In carrying out my invention I provide a are bolted as shown at 30 in spaced relation to standards 31 which are in turn bolted at 32 to the frame A of the automobile. The ratchet wheels 28 and 29 are positioned over the carrier or body portion in diametrical alignment with the pawls 15 and 16. The said ratchet wheels are provided ,yvith oppositely directed ratchet teeth 33 with which the pawls 15 and 16 are normally held in engagement by the coil springs 17.

In the use and operation of the device it will be understood that as the pawls 15 and 16 engage the ratchet teeth of the rings 28 and 29 the lower portion 2 of the steering shaft C is secured from rotation thereby. By turning the upper portion 1 which is controlled by the Steering wheel (not shown) the device is unlocked and the lower shaft 2 and consequently the steering gear l3 may be operated. Referring to Figure 3 the shaft. 1 is turned in the direction of the arrow. The casting 3, being secured thereto is caused to rotate within casting 4 so that the lower pawl operating shoulder 27 will force the foot 19 of lower pawl 15 downward against the spring 17. The outer end of the pawl 15 is thus disengaged from the teeth 33 ot the ratchet ring 2-9, assuming the position shown in the dotted lines 34. Referring now to Figure 2 it will be noted that, as the casting 3 is rotated as set forth, the stop 21 thereon will impinge the catch block 26 upon pawl rod 23 extending from the upper pawl 16, so that the said pawl 16 will also be disengaged from the ratchet teeth 33 of ratchet ring 28. The device is now unlocked and the steering gear may be turned in the direction of the arrow. As the pressure is released from the steering shaft C the force of the springs 17 immediately relocl: the device, thereby holding the front wheels in any given set position. In the case of a turn opposite to the one as described the upuer pawl 10 will be disengaged from the ratchet ring 28 by the upper pawl operating shoulder and pawl 15 will be disengaged from the ratchet wheel 29 by its operating rod 23.

By means of the pawl operating rods 23 and their associated elements wear upon the ratchet teeth is eliminated, as without the sa id rods the pawls not being unlocked by the shoulders 27 would drag upon the teeth. If desired the ratchet rings 28 and 29 may be resiliently attached to the standards 31 by coil springs or the like (not shown) so that strain upon the same due to the wheels of the vehicle striking an obstruction in the road will be taken up.

It is obvious that the device is equally applicable to motor boats, launches and the like or wherever the conveyance is steered through a steering shaft.

While I have herein set forth a preferred embodiment ofmy invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details of construction and assembly, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a motor vehicle steering device lock, in combination, a segmental steering shaft, a body portion comprising a pair of castings mount-ed in inter fitting relationship, upon the said shaft, over the parted ends thereof, the upper casting being secured to the upper shaft section, and the lower casting to the lower shaft section, a plurality of opposed spring set pawls rockingly mounted in the body portion, and a plurality of internally toothed ratchet rings anchored to the vehicle frame and over the said body in diametrical alignment with and engaging the said pawls.

2. In a lock for a motor vehicle steering gear, in con'ibination with a parted steering shaft, a pawl carrying body mounted thereupon, said body comprising a pair of complementary and spaced castings attached one each to the shaft sections and being rotatable upon a common axis, a plurality of spring set oawls roclringly mounted in the body portion and oppositely disposed relative to each other, pawl operating means extended therefrom, a plurality of internally toothed ratchet rings with oppositely directed teeth, said rings being mounted upon the frame of the vehicle and encircling the body portion in diametrical alignment with the pawls, the said pawls being adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet rings.

3. In a lock for an automobile steering assembly, upper and lower steering shaft sections, a body potion comprising a pair of laterally interlitting spaced castings, one of which is secured to the said lower section of the steering shaft and has a pair of oppositely directed spring set pawls mounted upon opposite sides thereof, said pawls having pawl operating rods with catch blocks secured to them, the remaining casting being secured to the upper section of the steering shaft, and provided with a pair of grooves in alignment with the pawls oi the companion casting, shoulders upon the said c: sting adapted to operate the said pawls, a pair of inwardly toothed ratchet rings with oppositely directed ratchet teeth, said ratchet rings being mounted upon the frame of the automobile and adapted to be releasably engaged by the pawls to lock the steering gear.

l. in a locking means for a steering device, in combination with upper and lower steering shaft sections, a pawl carrying body comprising a pair of castings mounted in co-operative interlitting relationship upon the steering shaft sections and adapted for angular displacement relative to each other, one casting being secured to the lower section and provided with spaced shoulders upon opposite sides and at opposite ends, the said casting having also spring set pawls rockingly mounted between the said shoulders, a plurality of pawl operating rods pivoted in the said pawls, catch blocks upon the said rods, the remaining casting being secured to the upper section of the steering shait and having; grooves with transverse stops therein for the reception of the said pawl operating rods, shoulders upon (he said last named casting adapted to engage the said pawls, and a plurality o1"- oppositely internally toothed ratchel; rings OpQIRtlVGly mounted over the assembly 10 and adapted to be releasably engaged by the said pawls for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALFRED 1P. TREDWAY. 

